25 years ago I was released from class early because my professor had a laryngitis. I headed to the student center and saw everyone crowded around the tv. Assumed Reagan had declared war and kept walking. As I got to the second tv room, I saw the shuttle launch footage on the screen and heard Peter Jennings say, "And here is when it happened." I stopped in my tracks and watched the horrific view. I don't remember much else from that day, only that I watched tv coverage of it ALL day... until I finally had to turn it off to breathe.
As I spoke of yesterday, I allow myself to experience this pain yet not fall into it. You keep it alive in you by whatever method you may use - mine is the first patch on my wall even though I started working at JSC between STS-29 and STS-30. But on these anniversary days, we watch the videos and allow ourselves to get closer to falling into that pit of which we have no control.
Take a minute today and allow yourself to go there in their honor!
Live Footage - extensive coverage of crowd reaction (chills among chills... BEWARE - includes families)
More new footage from someone's yard (they've got trouble of some kind... really? - sobering shot at the end depicting the cold weather)
ABC Newsflash with Steve Bell
NBC Live Aftermath Coverage
Four hours after live coverage clip with an emotional and haggered Peter Jennings
Peter Jennings World News Tonight
NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw
Reagan's words (slip the surly bonds and touch the face of God)
New Challenger Tribute for the 25th Anniversary with song that took 25 years to release! The story behind the "new" tribute song for the 25th Anniversary of Challenger
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I did indeed watch old TV footage of the event on the internet today. I believe it was the first time I had seen those replays since that fateful day 25 years ago.
But as we both know, a very great thing arose out of the despair of that day. The families of the Challenger 7 worked through their grief and came together to start the Challenger Learning Centers. In time more children will be inspired by those centers than ever could have been inspired by McAuliffe and the other six astronauts. I can't think of a better and more lasting tribute than that.
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